Sylvia M. Neil
Elected May 2019
Sylvia Markowicz Neil became involved in Brandeis in 2003 when she established HBI’s Project on Gender, Culture, Religion and the Law and its book series which she co-edits. She also established the Diane Markowicz Memorial lecture in memory of her late sister who was a Brandeis student.
Neil and her husband Daniel Fischel are deeply involved in civic and philanthropic matters predominantly in Chicago and Israel. Neil is currently chair of the Lyric Opera of Chicago, vice chair of the Art Institute of Chicago and serves on the board of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. She is emeritus trustee of the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago and past chair and life trustee of the Grand Teton Music Festival in Jackson Hole. She serves on the University of Chicago Visiting Committee for the Arts and Humanities.
Neil had a career in academia and civil rights advocacy. She taught at the University of Chicago Law School where she also served as associate dean, and Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law. She began in poverty law impact litigation and was executive director of American Jewish Congress Midwest region. She was a consultant to various international and civic organizations including the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago. Neil was appointed to both the Illinois and Cook County Human Rights Commissions and received the Rabbi Robert Marx Social Justice Award.
Neil has a BA with high distinction from the University of Michigan, an MA in Jewish Studies from the University of Chicago and JD cum laude from Northwestern University. She and her husband enjoy a close blended family of five children, their spouses, and seven grandchildren.